The Charlotte Democrat., 1887-12-23
How a Blind Man Sees.

Many instances have been related show
ing that detection in any one or more of
the human senses often results in develop
ing the corresponding inner sense This
has been more frequently observed in per.
sons afflicted with loss of eight and hear
ing. One of the most remarkable on records
Mr. Henry Hendrickson, born 10 Nor
way forty. three years ago, but who has
lived in this country forty years, was de-
prived of sight when six months old. He
was educated at the institution for the
blind in Janesyille, Wis; aud is the au-
thor oil book entitled "Out of the Dark
ness," somewhat in explanation of the
mediumship with which he is becoming
endowed, although unable to account for
it in any manner satisfactory to himself
or comfortable to the known laws of ply 81
cal science.
The narrative states that he ia well edu-
Gated, brilliant conversationalist, and,
with glasses which hide his completely
closed eyes, one would scarcely recognize
him as blind man. For the last twenty
years he has seldom used an escort, except
when iu great haste, and when going on
territory entirely strange to him. Many
people who have observed the facility
with which he moves from place to place
doubt that he is totally blind, but he has
been put under the severest tests, and
those who have made the Investigations
are convinced that he cannot see.
Describing his habits to the reporter,
he said: "When in a train at iull speed,
l Can distinguish and count the telegraph
poles easily, and often do it as q pastime,
or to determine our speed. Of course l
do not see them, l perceive them. It is
perception. Of course my perceptive
qualities are not in the least impaired on
| account of my blindness. am not able
to explain it, but am never in total dark.
| ness. 1t Is the same at midnight as at
midday. There is always bright glow
of light surrounding me-"
A practical test was made. A thick
heavy cloth was thrown over his head az
he sat in his chair This hung down on
| all sides to his waist. 1t was impossible
for any one to see through it. Then be.
fore him or behind him, it mattered not
an ordinary walking cane was held up in
various positions, and in answer TO the
inquiry, "In what position am holding
it?" he gave prompt and correct answers
without single mistake, sometimes de
scribing acute or oblique angles.
81 have never" he said, "by the ordi
nary sense of sight seen an object in my
life, not the faintesL glimmer of one. Ny
sight or discernment does not come il
that way. This will prove the idea t.
you: Take me into strange room, ont
that have never been into, and never
heard about, and no matter how dark it is
can tell you the dimensions of the room
very closely. do not feel the walls;
will touch nothing; but there is commuui
Gated to me by some strange law Of percep
tion the size and conigurstion of the room.
He then related that being in New
York in 1871, he walked from UnioI
Square to friends house on Forty-firsl
Street, long distance, with several turns
and did not make a. miss. He said: :"
knew the house when / came to it. die
cot see it, aud yet 1 did. am studying
shorthand, and as my hearing is yer!
good, l expect to become an expert.
had little trouble with my writing a
first, but am now able to write very we'll.
Another remarkable illustration of hi
power to see with out eyes is this: If on
make motions in the air like beating tn
time for a choir, but describing phoneti
characters, he tells the characters, an
interprets them. What might be terme
"crucial test" of this was given tn
Herald reporter.
Mr. Hendrickson further said: Pm
very good skater, and can, when gliding
over the ice swiftly, see every particle o
the ice. every crack and rough spot, n
matter how small and indistinct. Th
faster go, the palmer can see. Well,
don't mean that l can see, but perceive
or something. 1t is light to me and I di'
Germ everything"